Water ski



1968 J. w. RUTLAND ET AL. 3,395,410

WATER SKI FIG.4

FIG-.5

FIGZG INVENTORS JAMES W. RUTLAND REED R CLARY III ATTOR Aug. 6, 1968 J. w. RUTLAND ET AL 3,395,410

WATER SKI Filed July 25, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. IO

FIG. ll

IN VENTORS JAMES W. RUTLAND REED R. CLARY III BY d wrzdzc rdMA United States Patent 3,395,410 WATER SKI James W. Rutland, Cypress Gardens, and Reed R. Clary III, Miami, Fla, assignors to Cypress Gardens Skis, Inc., Cypress Gardens, Fla.

Filed July 25, 1966, Ser. No. 567,592 6 Claims. (Cl. 9-310) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A water ski or trick board is approximately 24 to 32 inches long and has releasable binders for both of the skiers feet, one behind the other, the body of the ski being relatively wide at its forward portion and tapering toward the rear.

This invention relates to athletics and sports and more particularly to a ski having novel performance characteristics.

A primary object of the invention is the provision of a water ski having unusual structure and size in order to require and permit unusual skiing techniques and add to the enjoyment of the sport.

Water skiing has been known for several decades, apparently having originated in the 1920s and during which various shapes and sizes of skis have been employed. As indicated in the book Water Skiing by Dick Pope, Sr., copyright 1958, published by Prentice-Hall, Inc., pages 170 and 171, conventional skis for adults ordinarily have had a length of about 68 to 72 inches, although those for youngsters have been about 48 inches. So-called trick skis have been about 54 inches in length. Shoe skis designed for certain tricks by experts are approximately 15 inches long. Single skis for each foot have a binder for toe and heel. Slalom skis have a toe and heel binder for the front foot and a toe binder for the rear foot, both mounted on the same ski.

The ski of the present invention, like the slalom, has binders for both feet on a single ski. The ski is unusual in its length, which is approximately 24 to 32 inches. In view of its shortness and also to permit the user to dislodge the ski more easily during a fall into the water, the front binder preferably does not have a heel member.

Accordingly it is an object of the invention to provide a trick board or water ski of unusual construction and design in which novel thrills may be obtained as compared to the riding of skis or trick boards which are already known.

These and other object of the invention will be further described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a ski in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation;

FIGS. 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7, sections on the lines 3-3, 4-4, 55, 6-6 and 7-7 respectively, of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8, a plan view of a modification;

FIG. 9, an elevation of the ski of FIG. 8; and

FIGS. 10, 11, 12 and 13, sections on the lines 1010, 11--11, 12-42 and 13-13 of FIG. 8.

Briefly stated, the ski of the present invention is substantially shorter than ordinary water skis, is preferably of about 24 to 32 inches in length, is tapered from its broadest portion of approximately 6 to 7 /2 inches adja cent to the holder for the front foot to atpproximately 5 to 6 inches adjacent to the holder for the rear foot. Whereas conventional skis have upwardly curving tips,'the ski of the present invention is substantially flat throughout its length, although in order to promote riding over the water 3,395,410 Patented Aug. 6, 1968 the front portion may have a bevel on the sides or a slight upward taper as will be described.

The ski of the present invention because of its relatively small size has less buoyancy than a full-size ski. However, its design is such that the buoyancy is adequate when the user is traveling through the Water at medium speed. Its longitudinal taper permits it to be used for relatively sharp curves. Similarly, the beveling of the forward portion or the providing of the upwardly inclined bottom of the forward portion facilitates the crossing of wakes or waves without spilling. The placing of the binders so that the feet are close together promotes better control, and the omission of the heel bindens for both feet permits the ski to become dislodged from the skiers feet more readily without injury to the skier. The use of a fin is preferred as it enables the skier more readily to maneuver, change direction, and the like at medium and high rates of speed.

With further reference to the drawings, the ski of FIGS. 1 to 7 has a front tip 10, a forward portion 11, a rearward portion 12, a rear tip 13, and a fin 15 beneath its rearward portion.

The ski has approximately the following dimensions: length, 24 to 32 inches; width at forward portion, approximately 6 to 7 /2 inches; at rearward portion, approximately 5 to 6 inches, the ski tapering as shown; nominal thickness of ski, /8 inches, the ski having a rounded or "beveled edge from approximately its midpoint to its forward tip as indcated in FIGS. 1 to 5. The fin should preferably be of a size to permit sharp cornering, that illusstrated being approximately 9 inches long and having a maximum depth of approximately 2 /2 inches.

The ski has a toe binder 16 of conventional, flexible nature, for the toe of the front foot, and a binder 17 for the toe of the rear foot. The rear binder is preferably open at both ends to permit the feet to be positioned close to gether.

In the ski of FIGS. 8 to 13 the length, width, and nominal thicknesses are the same. The ski of FIGS. 8 to 13 has a front tip 20, a forward portion 21, a rearward portion 22, a squared rear tip 23, and a fin 25. The forward portion on the undersurface 24 is inclined upwardly as indicated in FIGS. 9 to 11. Binders 26 and 27 are provided for the toes.

The ski is especially intended to appeal to the younger skier because of its maneuverability and yet relative ease of control due to having the feet positioned close together thereon.

Because of the short length, the longitudinal taper, the beveling or shovel effect of the front, the fin, and the close positioning of the feet thereon, the ski permits exciting maneuvering of a nature not heretofore possible for skiers and not requiring proficiency found only among experts.

It will be obvious to one skilled in the art that various changes may be made in the invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof and therefore the invention is not limited by that which is illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification, but only as indicated in the accompanying claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A water ski comprising a longitudinally tapered ski body having a relatively wider forward portion than its rearward portion, releasable foot engaging means, one at the forward and one at the rearward portion thereof, said ski of a length such that the rearward heel of the user is substantially over the rearward extremity of the ski, the forward heel of the user is contiguous to the toe of the rearward foot and the toe of the forward foot is adjacent to the front of the ski, the length of the ski being approximately 24 to 32 inches.

2. The invention of claim 1 in which the foot engag ing means constitute toe binders.

3. The invention of claim 2 in which the toe binder for the rear foot is open at both ends in order to permit close positioning of the feet on the ski.

4. The invention of claim 1 in which the bottom edge of the forward edge portion of the ski is beveled for approximately 6 to 12 inches and the portion of the ski rearwardly thereof is square at the edges.

5. The invention of claim 1 in which the forward portion is reduced in thickness for approximately 6 to 12 inches from approximately inch to approximately inch, producing an upwardly inclined surface on the forward bottom portion of the ski.

6. The invention of claim 1 in which a fin approximately 9 inches long and having a maximum depth of approximately 2 /2 inches is provided beneath the rear of the ski.

4 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2/ 1961 Eicholtz 93 10 4/ 196 2 Meehan 93 10 4A196 2 Fortin 9-310 6/1964 Tyll 93 10 3/1965 Amsbry 9310 5/1967 Penney 9310 FOREIGN PATENTS 6 /1964 Great Britain.

15 MILTON BUCHLER, Primary Examiner.

P. E. SAUBERER, Assistant Examiner. 

